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Die Hard Director’s Shocking Downfall: The Wiretap Scandal That Landed Him in Prison

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Apart from being recognized for his work on action masterpieces like “Die Hard” (1988) and the suspenseful sci-fi film “Predator” (1987), John McTiernan is also known for a less glamorous aspect of his life – his status as a convicted felon.

There’s no need to fret. It wasn’t as if he masterminded a robbery at a Los Angeles skyscraper during a deadly hostage crisis on Christmas Eve. However, his actions did lead to some questionable behavior that resulted in him being shunned by Hollywood and spending time in prison. So, you might wonder, what could have led the director of ’80s blockbusters to end up here? Interestingly, it was due to a film that many would agree isn’t worth serving jail time over.

The Story Begins With A Movie Called Rollerball

After achieving success with his well-known action movies, John McTiernan agreed to direct a modern take on Norman Jewison’s 1975 dystopian sports movie “Rollerball”. This film is adapted from a short story by William Harrison and features James Caan as the lead character in a violent sport with similarities to roller derby, hockey, and motocross. In this future setting, he discovers a conspiracy as corporations exert total control over society.

McTiernan’s 2002 adaptation, featuring Chris Klein, LL Cool J, and Rebecca Romijn, is often criticized as one of the most poorly executed film remakes. On Rotten Tomatoes, it scored an unfortunate 3%, with critics lambasting its confusing editing, a plot that lacked direction, and a blatant disregard for the original’s thought-provoking satirical aspects. Unfortunately, it didn’t fare well at the box office either, grossing approximately $25.9 million globally against a production budget of $70 million, as reported by Box Office Mojo.

Instead of being merely a blip in McTiernan’s filmography, “Rollerball” could have been seen as such. Following it up the next year with “Basic”, a movie about military training, would have concluded the tale. However, a few years later, fresh scandalous details concerning “Rollerball” surfaced.

John McTiernan Hired A Private Eye To Wiretap The Rollerball Producer’s Phone Conversations

According to a 2013 report by The Guardian, John McTiernan had creative differences with the producer of Rollerball, Charles Roven. It’s said that these disagreements led McTiernan to consider taking illegal actions to address his concerns regarding the film’s production.

In 2000, it’s said that he engaged Anthony Pellicano, a private investigator and well-known Hollywood fixer, for the purpose of tapping Roven’s conversations. The intent was to uncover any negative comments made by Roven about studio executives or statements that contradicted his words to the studio. This information is outlined in court records. Interestingly, it wasn’t the illegal wiretapping itself that led McTiernan to court six years later; rather, a federal investigation into the matter was initiated. However, it was not the illegal wiretapping per se that prompted McTiernan’s court appearance.

John McTiernan Was Charged With Lying About The Wiretapping

In February 2006, as reported by Variety, the FBI interrogated John McTiernan over allegations that he hired Anthony Pellicano to tap Charles Roven’s phone conversations. McTiernan denied any knowledge of the matter. However, the FBI later discovered a conversation between them discussing the wiretapping assignment, a recording made by Pellicano himself. Consequently, McTiernan was indicted for lying to federal investigators in April of the same year.

After a span of seven years, he eventually accepted a 12-month imprisonment term. On April 3, 2013, he was transferred to the Federal Prison Camp in Yankton, South Dakota, which offers minimal security. During his incarceration, he garnered support from renowned actors such as Samuel L. Jackson and Alec Baldwin, who had previously collaborated with him on “Die Hard with a Vengeance” (1995) and “Basic,” respectively, and played Jack Ryan in the 1990’s “The Hunt for Red October,” a film that McTiernan also directed. As reported by BBC, McTiernan was set to be discharged from this facility the following February, with the remaining part of his sentence to be served under house arrest at his home in Wyoming.

What Is John McTiernan Doing Now?

Over a decade ago, John McTiernan completed his time in federal prison, but he hasn’t directed another film since “Basic.” Given that Academy Award-winning actor Robert Downey Jr., who also stars in Marvel films, served 15 months in prison and then made an impressive comeback, dubbed by friend Anthony Michael Hall as “the greatest second act ever,” it seems plausible for the director of one of the most cherished Christmas movies (such as “Die Hard,” whether or not you consider it a holiday staple) to follow suit.

McTiernan revealed to Empire magazine back in 2014 that while he was incarcerated, he wrote a possible sequel for his 1999 film “The Thomas Crown Affair,” but it remains unpublished. Additionally, he intended to direct a science fiction movie titled “Taut Ceci Foxtrot” starring Uma Thurman and Laurence Fishburne, Academy Award nominees. However, due to issues related to COVID-19, the film was halted before eventually being canceled in late 2020, as reported by Filmofilia. Five years later, in March 2025, McTiernan told Forbes that he has several ideas for new directorial projects, but it’s uncertain whether or when the 74-year-old filmmaker will bring them to life.

After John McTiernan faced legal issues and Bruce Willis, who played John McClane in Die Hard, retired in 2022 due to frontotemporal dementia, the Die Hard movies have gained a somewhat melancholic fame. Over the years, I’ve always respected McTiernan as an artist, considering that the original Die Hard was still being written during principal photography – debates even arose over McClane’s iconic catchphrase – and yet, he successfully turned it into a timeless classic with just a few plot points that seemed slightly confusing. I can only hope to see him back at work someday, ready to astonish us once more by sending us flying backwards in our seats.

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2025-06-28 19:08

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